Installation equipment for successive elongated units



Nov. 10, 1964 c. WILLIAMS 3,156,036

INSTALLATION EQUIPMENT FOR SUCCESSIVE ELONGATED UNITS Original Filed Dec. 18, 1958 United States Patent M INSTALLATION EQUIPMENT FOR SUCCESSIVE ELONGATED UNITS Charles Williams, 7058 Bancroft, St. Louis 9, Mo.

Original application Dec. 18, 1958, Ser. No. 781,226, now Patent No. 3,090,110, dated May 21, 1963. Divided and this application Apr. 18, 1963, Ser. No. 273,938

Claims. (Cl. 29-203) The invention relates to the guiding of the forward end of an elongated string of pipes, support rails for electric conduits, or similar elongated sections, disposed end to end as they are fed to a plurality of supports arranged in alignment, the feeding being effected by thrust upon the rear end of the string.

The present application is a division of an earlier application filed December 18, 1958, Serial No. 781,226, now Patent No. 3,090,110 issued May 21, 1963.

In the accompanying drawings and the following detail description, the invention is described as applied to lighting equipment comprising strings of fluorescent lamp fixtures supported by spaced hangers suspended from a ceiling or other overhead structure by means of metal rails disposed end to end between the widely spaced upright walls of a factory or other building of large area.

The installation of such lighting equipment requires the feeding of the elongated rail sections lengthwise and successively from one part of the area through aligned brackets which have been suspended from the overhead structure and are connected by a guy line extending between building walls. Sometimes the distance between walls will be several hundred feet. The supporting rail and electrical conduits and fixtures comprise units up to ten feet in length which heretofore have been pushed by hand from a common starting point, but this is difficult and there is a limit to the number of units which can be so manipulated. This is readily appreciated When the weight of each unit, approximately seventy-five pounds, and the possibility of moving fifty or more units is taken into consideration.

The general object of the present invention is to facilitate installation in assembled relation of a plurality of elongated units from a'single initial operation station, by utilizing a guide which is attached to the forward one of a plurality of unit arranged end to end and disposed to follow a guy line as the sections are advanced and leading the forward section into successive hanger elements to which the guy line is attached. This general object and more detail objects indicated below are attained by the structure illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 shows diagrammatically a part of a lighting installation of the type described and feeding mechanism including guide structure and a guy wire stretched between opposite building walls and suspended from the roof by hangers into which the electrical conduit carrying units are to be inserted.

FIG. 2 is a side view of the guide structure shown near the left hand end of FIG. 1, drawn to a larger scale.

FIG. 3 is a top view of the structure shown in FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a detail vertical section on line 44 of FIG. 7

bus bars, the duct support from the rail, and indicating one of the fluorescent tube lighting fixtures supported by the duct.

Referring to FIG. 1, building walls W support ceiling and looking toward an end of one of the ducts, including 3,156,036 Patented Nov. 10, 1964 beams or girders C, from one of which a plurality of rods, chains or cables S are suspended, each carrying an inverted U-shape hanger H. A taut guy line L extends from Wall to wall and is secured to each of the suspension elements S or hangers H and holds them against swinging movement. Hangers H carry rollers H. Elongated rail sections R pass through hangers H and are supported on rollers H. At intervals clips P (FIGS. 1, 6) are secured to rails R by screws or bolts J and extend downwardly therefrom and beneath elongated ducts D which mount bus bars B. Insulation strips N shield the bus bars from the ducts and clips. Brackets K have upstanding fingers K overlying ducts D and supporting fluorescent lamp fixtures F by bolts Q. An insulating block T near an end of each fixture F is carried by fingers X which overlie the duct. Brackets K and blocks T are each applied to the duct by positioning their fingers parallel to and beneath the duct and then raising the bracket or block to the proper level and rotating it horizontally until the fingers overlie the duct. This rotation of the block and its fingers brings the block contacts Y into engagement with bus bars B. Legs Z depend from blocks T and terminate in jaws which grip a cord V leading from contacts Y to the lamp tubes U. All the above parts are known structure and in themselves do not constitute the present invention.

A feeding mechanism M is applied to the first or second rail section mounted on the hangers and operates to advance the rail section on which it is mounted, and successive rail sections applied thereto, from right to left, as indicated by arrows A, through successive hangers H. As each rail section is delivered from mechanism M, a duct D, a fixture F with block T may be added to form a complete unit. If preferred, a rail section, a

duct section, a fixture and block T may be assembled of hand wheels 69 so that the feeding mechanism is held stationary. The feeding mechanism includes pairs of upper and lower rollers 3, 12, means for clamping them against the rail flanges 6 and rotating them to feed the rail, in the desired direction, as indicated by arrow A, or in the opposite direction, by a reversible motor enclosed in housing 63.

The guide structure comprising the subject matter of the present application makes it possible for workmen at one end of a long series of hangers S connected by guy line L to install a complete row of fixtures F from one wall W to another wall W without the workmen moving from the initial installation point. The guide G at the left hand end of FIG. 1 is attached at its right hand end by a coupling to the first or leading unit of a series of rails R. The guide includes two elongated aligned main body parts 83, 85 connected to each other by hinge E which includes a pivot pin P extending transversely of the length of the parts. .Part 83 corresponds generally in cross section to a rail R with its flanges cut away near its left hand end, leaving the side 7 and bottom 8 projecting beyond the hinge pin. Part 85 includes a rear portion 86 to which the hinge butt is attached and vertically spaced strips 87, 87a extending therefrom toward the left and spot welded to each other at 90. Upper strip 87a extends beyond the weld and is curved upwardly at 88 and grooved transversely at 89 (FIG. 5) to receive and bear against the guy line. A bowed leaf spring 91 is secured adjustably at one end to part 85 by screws 94 and is secured at its other end to part 83 by screws 96 so as to thrust guide part 35 upwardly. The extreme tip 93 of the guide is below the level of portion 88 and is pointed forwardly and is guided by the guy line into successive hangers H as the rail is fed by mechanism M. A coupling 95 is secured to the right hand end of guide part 83 and has keyhole slots 97 for receiving round head screws 98 to connect the coupling to the forward end of a rail R. A similar coupling is utilized as each new section of rail R is raised for insertion into the feeder.

With the structure described above, successive rail sections are raised to the level of a hanger H, at the right hand end of the string, coupled to the previous section and fed forwardly by operation of the gripping rollers of mechanism M. Each section is pulled into the feeding mechanism by the corresponding coupling 95 and thereafter pushes all of the sections ahead of it forwardly. The foremost section enters successive hangers H through the action of guide G.

Ordinarily it is unnecessary for workmen to use ladders or other equipment at points other than the starting point and the terminal point of a string of rails and fixtures. However, the feeding mechanism can be applied to the rail at any point between the ends of a guy line either for installation or removal of the rail sections and fixtures hung therefrom. The structure will feed a plurality of rail and fixture units rapidly and with no thrusting effort by workmen, thereby decreasing the time and expense of installation of the type of equipment referred to.

As indicated in the introductory portion of the specification, the same general mechanism and guide structure may be utilized in feeding units other than lighting fixture support rails, and variations in details of construction and uses as indicated, and otherwise, may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention, and the exclusive use of such modifications coming within the scope of the claims is contemplated.

What is claimed is:

1. In a device for feeding electrical conduit-supporting rail to a series of aligned hangers spaced apart and suspended from overhead supports and connected by a stationary guy line, an elongated guide comprising a body rear part provided with attaching elements at one end for connection to one end of a rail, an elongated body forward part hinged at one end to said body rear part and having a guy line engageable tip at its other end, with an upper face concaved in cross section, and spring means yieldingly thrusting said tip end upwardly in advance of said body part.

2. In a device for feeding an elongated rail or the like to successive overhead rail supports spaced apart and connected by a stationary guy line, an elongated body rear part, attaching elements at one end thereof for connection to the end of a rail, an elongated body forward part extending lengthwise of said body rear part from the other end of the latter and having a longitudinally grooved upper face near its forward end, a hinge connecting said body parts and having a pivot pin between them disposed transversely of the length of the parts and holding them against relative angular movement horizontally, an elongated leaf spring extending along said parts in opposite directions from said hinge and fixedly engaged at one end to said body rear part and at its other end adjustably engaging said forward part and thrusting the outer end of the latter upwardly above the level of said body part.

3. In a guide structure for application to the forward end of an elongated rail or the like, a body rear part, an elongated body forward part hinged at one end to said body rear part to swing about a horizontal pivot pin disposed transversely of and connecting said parts, the upper face of the swinging end of said forward part being grooved lengthwise, and spring means thrusting the swinging end of said forward part upwardly about said hinge pin.

4. In a structure for feeding an elongated rail or the like to successive overhead rail supports spaced apart and connected by a stationary guy line, a guide elongated rear body part constructed and arranged for attachment at one end to the forward end of a rail, an elongated body forward part in longitudinal alignment with said elongated rear body part and having a hinge connection to the latter for vertical pivotal movement thereon, the outer end of the body forward part being upwardly convex lengthwise with the uppermost portion of its face being upwardly concave transversely of its length to receive a guy line, and spring means mounted on said body rear part yieldingly thrusting said forward end portion upwardly.

5. A structure according to claim 4 in which the forward terminal of the body forward part is narrowed transversely of the length of the structure to facilitate its entrance between the spaced sides of a supporting hanger.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,324,176 Smith July 13, 1943 2,913,818 Somes Nov. 24, 1959 2,975,512 Somes Mar. 21, 1961 

1. IN A DEVICE FOR FEEDING ELECTRICAL CONDUIT-SUPPORTING RAIL TO A SERIES OF ALIGNED HANGERS SPACED APART AND SUSPENDED FROM OVERHEAD SUPPORTS AND CONNECTED BY A STATIONARY GUY LINE, AN ELONGATED GUIDE COMPRISING A BODY REAR PART PROVIDED WITH ATTACHING ELEMENTS AT ONE END FOR CONNECTION TO ONE END OF A RAIL, AN ELONGATED BODY FORWARD PART HINGED AT ONE END TO SAID BODY REAR PART AND HAVING A GUY LINE ENGAGEABLE TIP AT ITS OTHER END, WITH AN UPPER FACE CONCAVED IN CROSS SECTION, AND SPRING MEANS YIELDINGLY THRUSTING SAID TIP END UPWARDLY IN ADVANCE OF SAID BODY PART. 